James Oliver Rigney, better known as Robert Jordan, was the bestselling fantasy author behind the epic Wheel of Time series.
In his early life, he served as a helicopter gunner in the Vietnam War. He worked as a nuclear engineer for the United States Navy. But in 1977, he began writing and went on to pen some of the most celebrated fantasy novels in history.
Jordan sadly passed away in 2007, but his incredible legacy lives on, and his work is still treasured by millions of readers around the globe.
So, if you love high fantasy epics and you’ve never read Robert Jordan’s books, you’re in for a real treat. Read on to find out everything you need to know about this legendary author’s work.
Robert Jordan’s Books
Robert Jordan penned three series and several standalone titles during his lifetime. Below; I’ll list them all in reading and publication order.
I’ll also include a summary of each series to help you decide where to begin your reading journey.
| Sr. No. | Title | Publication Date | Print Length | Publisher | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Fallon Books | January 1, 1980 | 381 pages | GROSSET DUNLAP St Edition edition | Amazon |
| 2 | The Conan the Barbarian Books | July 1, 1984 | 192 pages | Robert Hale Ltd | Amazon |
| 3 | The Wheel of Time Books | January 1, 1990 | 832 pages | Paperback | Amazon |
| 4 | The Wheel of Time Graphic Novels | January 6, 2004 | 336 pages | Tor Fantasy | Amazon |
| 5 | Robert Jordan’s Standalone Novels | February 12, 2000 | 240 pages | Forge Books | Amazon |
The Fallon Books (as Reagan O’Neal)
Robert Jordan published this three-part historical fiction series under the pen name Reagan O’Neal. The stories follow the lives and adventures of the Fallon men through some of the most poignant times in American history.
In book one, we meet Michael Fallon, who goes from rags to riches to become a member of the Carolina aristocracy and a privateer in the American Revolution. Book two follows the story of Michael’s son, Robert Fallon, a ship’s captain who sails around the globe before returning to serve on the battlefields of the War of 1812. And in the series’s final installment, we meet James Fallon, an ambitious visionary who becomes the founder of a Texas colony before discovering some uncomfortable truths about his family’s history.
The Fallon Books in Reading and Publication Order
The Fallon books are interconnected; therefore, to get the most out of the series, it’s best to read them in the order they were published, listed below.
The Conan the Barbarian Books
The character of Conan the Barbarian was first dreamed up by Robert E. Howard in the early 1930s. This fictional hero originally appeared in pulp magazines and has gone on to become an icon in books, comics, movies, TV shows, and video games.
Over the years, numerous authors have written works featuring Conan the Barbarian. Still, few have pulled it off quite as successfully as Robert Jordan. His seven novels are among the most beloved of all the Conan adaptations and some of the most acclaimed reworks of Robert E. Howard’s original character.
The Conan the Barbarian Books in Reading and Publication Order
The Conan the Barbarian books are interconnected, so to get the most out of the series, it’s best to read them in the order they were published, listed below.
- Conan the Invincible (1982)
- Conan the Defender (1982)
- Conan the Unconquered (1983)
- Conan the Triumphant (1983)
- Conan the Magnificent (1984)
- Conan the Destroyer (1984)
- Conan the Victorious (1984)
The Wheel of Time Books
The Wheel of Time series is an epic fantasy saga about a furious battle between good and evil.
The series’ incredible popularity makes this one of the most lauded fantasy sagas since J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings trilogy. The novels have sold more than 90 million copies around the globe, and many of them reached the number one spot in the New York Times Best Sellers list.
The stories take place in both the past and the future, in a fictional world that fans have dubbed the World of the Wheel, or Randlands, after the book’s central character, Rand al’Thor.
At the start of the series, Rand is living a simple life as a farmer’s son. But he soon discovers that his parents aren’t his parents, and his true lineage makes him more powerful than he could ever have imagined. But great power comes with great responsibility. Rand is destined to battle the Evil One and save the world from otherwise certain peril.
Robert Jordan began The Wheel of Time saga in 1990, with the series debut, Eye of the World. He published a further eleven novels, but sadly, he passed away before he could complete the series. Yet thankfully, he left detailed notes of his plans for future books, and fellow fantasy author Brandon Sanderson completed the last three novels according to Robert Jordan’s wishes.
The Wheel of Time books have inspired numerous adaptations, including the recent TV series produced by Sony Pictures and Amazon Studios. And so, a decade after the final novel was published, this iconic saga is still drawing in new readers and inspiring up-and-coming fantasy authors around the globe.
How to Read The Wheel of Time Books?
There are two ways to read the Wheel of Time series. Many fans suggest simply following the original publication order. However, in 2004, Robert Jordan published the prequel novel New Spring, set two decades before the events in book one, Eye of the World.
So, below, I’ll list both the publication order and the chronological order of the books, so you can choose the reading order that works for you.
The Wheel of Time Books in Publication Order
- The Eye of the World (1990)
- The Great Hunt (1990)
- The Dragon Reborn (1991)
- The Shadow Rising (1992)
- The Fires of Heaven (1993)
- Lord of Chaos (1994)
- A Crown of Swords (1996)
- The Path of Daggers (1998)
- Winter’s Heart (2000)
- Crossroads of Twilight (2003)
- New Spring (2004) (prequel)
- Knife of Dreams (2005)
- The Gathering Storm (2009) (by Brandon Sanderson)
- Towers of Midnight (2010) (by Brandon Sanderson)
- A Memory of Light (2013) (by Brandon Sanderson)
The Wheel of Time Books in Chronological Order
- New Spring (2004)
- The Eye of the World (1990)
- The Great Hunt (1990)
- The Dragon Reborn (1991)
- The Shadow Rising (1992)
- The Fires of Heaven (1993)
- Lord of Chaos (1994)
- A Crown of Swords (1996)
- The Path of Daggers (1998)
- Winter’s Heart (2000)
- Crossroads of Twilight (2003)
- Knife of Dreams (2005)
- The Gathering Storm (2009) (by Brandon Sanderson)
- Towers of Midnight (2010) (by Brandon Sanderson)
- A Memory of Light (2013) (by Brandon Sanderson)
The Wheel of Time Graphic Novels
In the years following his death, Robert Jordan worked closely with comic book creators Chuck Dixon and Mike Miller to produce a graphic adaptation of the smash hit prequel to the Wheel of Time series, New Spring.
Sadly, Jordan didn’t live enough to see the final volume published. Still, with the full blessing and support of the Jordan estate, Dixon and Miller have continued the series and published multiple other volumes based on various storylines and characters from the original books.
The Wheel of Time Graphic Novels in Reading and Publication Order
The Wheel of Time graphic novels are interconnected, so to get the most out of the series, it’s best to read them in the order they were published, listed below.
- New Spring (2010)
- The Eye of the World, Volume 1 (2011)
- The Eye of the World, Volume 2 (2012)
- The Eye of the World, Volume 3 (2013)
- The Eye of the World, Volume 4 (2013)
- The Eye of the World, Volume 5 (2014)
- The Eye of the World, Volume 6 (2015)
Robert Jordan’s Standalone Novels
Robert Jordan penned two standalone titles during his lifetime.
The first to be published was Cheyenne Raiders, written under the pseudonym Jackson O’Reilly. This lesser-known work is set in the Old West and tells the story of Thomas McCabe, a Yale-educated Bureau of Indian Affairs officer sent to Missouri to live with a nomadic tribe.
After saving the life of one of the tribe’s members, McCabe finally gained their trust. But when he falls in love with the enigmatic and beautiful Night Bird Woman, he’s forced to undergo a brutal initiation known as the Test of Fire to prove himself worthy of her hand.
Robert Jordan’s other standalone title, Warrior of the Altaii, was published more than a decade after the author’s death. But this was the first novel that Robert Jordan ever wrote, yet it remained hidden from the world until 2019.
This action-packed novel tells the story of Wulfgar, the leader of the Altaii people. These hardened horse warriors live in a harsh wasteland plain, where each day is a battle for survival. And now, their entire existence is under threat, and Wulfar must lead his people into a bloody war to secure their future.
Conclusion
Robert Jordan was one of the most influential fantasy authors of all time. His incredible legacy will undoubtedly live on for many generations to come.
Are you already a fan of Jordan’s work? If so, I’d love to hear your reviews and recommendations. Could you drop me a comment in the box below?